Straw closing sleeve, and a foldable blank supplying sheet and a roll of foldable blank supplying tape for providing the same

ABSTRACT

A straw closing sleeve for closing a drinking end of a straw includes a foldable blank that is converted into a sleeve body. The sleeve body includes a top end wall, two surrounding wall halves that extend downwardly from a peripheral end of the top end wall and that cooperate to define a bottom opening opposite to the top end wall, and a receiving space between the top end wall and the bottom opening, and two adhesively bonded joint portions that are respectively connected to two opposite sides of each of the surrounding wall halves. A foldable blank supplying sheet and a roll of foldable blank supplying tape for providing the straw closing sleeve are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 105202465, filed on Feb. 22, 2016.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a closing sleeve, and more particularly to a straw closing sleeve, and a foldable blank supplying sheet and a roll of foldable blank supplying tape for providing one or more of the straw closing sleeves.

BACKGROUND

A straw generally has an insertion end portion for being inserted into liquid, such as a beverage, received in a container, such as a cup, and a drinking end portion opposite to the insertion end portion to protrude from the container. When a user wants to drink the beverage in the cup through the straw, the drinking end portion of the straw will be put in the mouth of the user and may collect saliva and residual liquid from the beverage. Hence, the drinking end portion easily gathers dust or germs, and may even attract insects, such as flies, upon exposure to the environment. Thus, hygienic concerns are an issue associated with the straw.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a straw closing sleeve that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, the straw closing sleeve for closing a drinking end of a straw includes a foldable blank.

The foldable blank is converted into a sleeve body. The sleeve body includes a top end wall, two surrounding wall halves, and two adhesively bonded joint portions.

The surrounding wall halves extend downwardly from a peripheral end of the top end wall, and cooperate to define a bottom opening that is opposite to the top end wall and a receiving space that is between the top end wall and the bottom opening.

The adhesively bonded joint portions are respectively connected to two opposite sides of each of the surrounding wall halves.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a foldable blank supplying sheet includes a blank carrier layer, a release layer, and an adhesive layer.

The blank carrier layer includes a plurality of foldable blanks, a plurality of tear lines each surrounding one of the foldable blanks, and a plurality of scrap regions each surrounding one of the tear lines.

The adhesive layer is formed between the blank carrier layer and the release layer.

Each of the foldable blanks includes an elongate blank sheet that has a longitudinal adhesive-free portion, two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions that are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the adhesive-free portion, a mid fold line that extends transversely through the adhesive-free portion and the adhesive-bearing portions and that divides the elongate blank sheet into two parts, and a looped fold line intersecting the mid fold line within the adhesive-free portion.

The layer of the adhesive covers the longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions of the foldable blanks and the scrap regions.

According to the other aspect of the disclosure, a roll of foldable blank supplying tape includes a blank tape.

The blank tape has a long row of foldable blanks interconnected in series, and a plurality of blank tape transverse tear lines each formed between two adjacent ones of the foldable blanks.

Each of the foldable blanks includes an elongate blank sheet that has a longitudinal adhesive-free portion, two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions that are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the adhesive-free portion, a mid fold line that extends transversely through the adhesive-free portion and the adhesive-bearing portions and that divides the blank sheet into two parts, and a looped fold line that intersects the mid fold line within the adhesive-free portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a straw closing sleeve according to the disclosure for closing a drinking end of a straw;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the embodiment of the straw closing sleeve;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a foldable blank of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating how the foldable blank is converted into a sleeve body;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a foldable blank supplying sheet according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the foldable blank supplying sheet;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a roll of foldable blank supplying tape according to the disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating another configuration of the embodiment of the roll of foldable blank supplying tape according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a straw closing sleeve according to the disclosure is used for closing a drinking end 11 of a straw 1, and includes a foldable blank 2′ that is converted into a sleeve body 2. The foldable blank 2′ may be made from paper, a plastic sheet, etc. In the embodiment, the foldable blank 2′ is made from paper.

The sleeve body 2 includes a top end wall 21, two surrounding wall halves 22, and two adhesively bonded joint portions 222. The surrounding wall halves 22 extend downwardly from a peripheral end of the top end wall 21, and cooperate to define a bottom opening 20 that is opposite to the top end wall 21 and a receiving space (S) that is between the top end wall 21 and the bottom opening 20 and that is used for receiving the drinking end 11 of the straw 1. The adhesively bonded joint portions 222 are respectively connected to two opposite sides of each of the surrounding wall halves 22. In the embodiment, each of the adhesively bonded joint portions 222 has a grip part 223 that projects outwardly in a direction opposite to the surrounding wall halves 22 and that is adapted to be gripped by a user.

The foldable blank 2′ includes an elongate blank sheet 23 and adhesive strips 24. The elongate blank sheet 23 has two longitudinally opposite ends 231, a longitudinal adhesive-free portion 232 that extends from one of the opposite ends 231 to the other one of the opposite ends 231, and two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions 233 that are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the adhesive-free portion 232 and respectively have the adhesive strips 24.

The elongate blank sheet 23 further includes a mid fold line 211 that extends transversely through the adhesive-free portion 232 and the adhesive-bearing portions 233 and that divides the elongate blank sheet 23 into two parts, and a looped line 212 intersecting the mid fold line 211 within the adhesive-free portion 232. In the embodiment, the foldable blank 2′ further includes a printed layer 25 that is formed on a surface of the elongate blank sheet 23 opposite to the adhesive strips 24. The printed layer 25 may include a pattern having at least one word, an image, or some colors for identification purposes.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the foldable blank 2′ is converted into the sleeve body 2, the foldable blank 2′ is first folded along the mid fold line 211, followed by pressing portions of each of the folded adhesive-bearing portions 233 divided by the mid fold line 211 to be bonded to each other through a corresponding one of the adhesive strips 24. Thereafter, the elongate blank sheet 23 is pressed along the mid fold line 211 to forma caved area defined by the looped fold line 212 that forms the top end wall 21, and the remaining area of the elongate blank sheet 23 forms the surrounding wall halves 22 and the adhesively bonded joint portions 222. In the embodiment, the top end wall 21 is exemplified to be leaf-shaped.

Referring back to FIG. 1, when the user stops drinking, the sleeve body 2 is put over the straw 1, so as to cover the drinking end 11 of the straw 1. Therefore, the drinking end 11 of the straw 1 can be protected from coming into contact with dust, germs, and insects. When the user wants to drink again, the sleeve body 2 is taken off and the drinking end 11 of the straw 1 is exposed again for the user to resume drinking.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, an embodiment of a foldable blank supplying sheet 3 according to the disclosure includes a blank carrier layer 31, a release layer 32, and an adhesive layer 24′. The blank carrier layer 31 includes a plurality of the foldable blanks 2′, a plurality of tear lines 312 each surrounding one of the foldable blanks 2′, and a plurality of scrap regions 311 each surrounding one of the tear lines 312. The adhesive layer 24′ is formed between the blank carrier layer 31 and the release layer 32.

As mentioned above, each of the foldable blanks 2′ includes the elongate blank sheet 23. The adhesive layer 24′ covers the longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions 233 of the foldable blanks 2′ and the scrap regions 311 so as to serve as the adhesive strips 24. In the embodiment, the number of each of the foldable blanks 2′, the tear lines 312, and the scrap regions 311 is respectively exemplified to be three, and the scrap regions 311 are exemplified to be integrally formed as one piece. It is worth noting that the numbers of the foldable blanks 2′, the tear lines 312, and the scrap regions 311 can be adjustable and different from each other according to actual practice.

When the foldable blank supplying sheet 3 is being used, each of the foldable blanks 2′ is capable of being torn off from the release layer 32 along the corresponding one of the tear lines 312, followed by converting the foldable blank 2′ into the sleeve body 2 as mentioned above in connection with FIG. 5. The foldable blank supplying sheet 3 is convenient for transport, storage and selling. Alternatively, the release layer 32 may include a plurality of tear lines (not shown) that are respectively aligned with the tear lines 312 of the blank carrier layer 31. Hence, each of the foldable blanks 2′ can be removed from the foldable blank supplying sheet 3 together with a corresponding portion of the release layer 32 to be a sticker.

Alternatively, the foldable blank supplying sheet 3 may be further formed with a printed sheet such that each of the foldable blanks 2′ obtained therefrom has the above printed layer 25.

Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment of a roll of foldable blank supplying tape 4 according to the disclosure includes a blank tape 41.

The blank tape 41 has a long row of foldable blanks 2′ interconnected in series, and a plurality of blank tape transverse tear lines 411 each formed between two adjacent ones of the foldable blanks 2′.

When the roll of foldable blank supplying tape 4 is being used, each of the foldable blanks 2′ is capable of being torn off along a corresponding one of the blank tape transverse tear lines 411, followed by converting the foldable blank 2′ into the sleeve body 2 as mentioned above in connection with FIG. 5. The roll of foldable blank supplying tape 4 is convenient for transport, storage and selling.

Referring to FIG. 9, in another configuration of the roll of foldable blank supplying tape 4, a release tape 42 is further included to be removably connected to the blank tape 41 and is formed with a plurality of release tape transverse tear lines 421 that are respectively aligned with the blank tape transverse tear lines 411.

The blank tape 41 further includes multiple pairs of longitudinal scrap regions 412 and multiple pairs of longitudinal tear lines 413.

Each pair of the scrap regions 412 is formed between two adjacent ones of the blank tape transverse tear lines 411 at two opposite sides of a corresponding one of the foldable blanks 2′. Each of the longitudinal tear lines 413 is disposed between two adjacent ones of the blank tape transverse tear lines 411 and between a corresponding one of the foldable blanks 2′ and a corresponding one of the longitudinal scrap regions 412.

In summary, by virtue of the design of the foldable blank 2′, and the foldable blank supplying sheet 3 and the roll of foldable blank supplying tape 4 for providing the same, the sleeve body 2 for detachably and closely sleeving the drinking end 11 of the straw 1 can be easily obtained. Thus, the drinking end 11 of the used straw 1 can be effectively protected from contacting dust and insects, and hygienic concerns when using the straw 1 can be greatly eased.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments maybe practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A straw closing sleeve for closing a drinking end of a straw, comprising: a foldable blank that is converted into a sleeve body, which includes: a top end wall; two surrounding wall halves that extend downwardly from a peripheral end of said top end wall, and that cooperate to define a bottom opening opposite to said top end wall and a receiving space between said top end wall and said bottom opening; and two adhesively bonded joint portions that are respectively connected to two opposite sides of each of said surrounding wall halves.
 2. The straw closing sleeve of claim 1, wherein: said foldable blank includes an elongate blank sheet that has two longitudinally opposite ends, a longitudinal adhesive-free portion extending from one of said opposite ends to the other one of said opposite ends, and two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions, which are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of said adhesive-free portion, and which respectively have adhesive strips; said elongate blank sheet further includes a mid fold line that extends transversely through said adhesive-free portion and said adhesive-bearing portions and that divides said elongate blank sheet into two parts, and a looped fold line intersecting said mid fold line within said adhesive-free portion; wherein, when said foldable blank is converted into said sleeve body, an area defined by said looped fold line forms said top end wall, and the remaining area of said elongate blank sheet forms said surrounding wall halves and said adhesively bonded joint portions.
 3. The straw closing sleeve of claim 1, wherein at least one of said adhesively bonded joint portions has a grip part that projects outwardly in a direction opposite to said surrounding wall halves.
 4. The straw closing sleeve of claim 2, wherein said foldable blank further includes a printed layer 25 formed on a surface of said elongate blank sheet opposite to said adhesive strips.
 5. A foldable blank supplying sheet, comprising: a blank carrier layer including a plurality of foldable blanks, a plurality of tear lines each surrounding one of said foldable blanks, and a plurality of scrap regions each surrounding one of said tear lines; a release layer; and an adhesive layer formed between said blank carrier layer and said release layer; wherein each of said foldable blank includes an elongate blank sheet that has a longitudinal adhesive-free portion, two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions, which are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of said adhesive-free portion, a mid fold line that extends transversely through said adhesive-free portion and said adhesive-bearing portions and that divides said elongate blank sheet into two parts, and a looped fold line intersecting said mid fold line within said adhesive-free portion; and wherein said adhesive layer covers said longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions of said foldable blanks and said scrap regions.
 6. The foldable blank supplying sheet of claim 5, further comprising a printed layer formed on each of said foldable blanks.
 7. A roll of foldable blank supplying tape (4) comprising: a blank tape having a long row of foldable blanks interconnected in series, and a plurality of blank tape transverse tear lines each formed between two adjacent ones of said foldable blanks; wherein each of said foldable blanks includes an elongate blank sheet 23 that has a longitudinal adhesive-free portion, two longitudinal adhesive-bearing portions, which are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of said adhesive-free portion, a mid fold line that extends transversely through said adhesive-free portion and said adhesive-bearing portions and that divides said elongate blank sheet into two parts, and a looped fold line intersecting said mid fold line within said adhesive-free portion.
 8. The roll of foldable blank supplying tape of claim 7, further comprising a release tape removably connected to said blank tape.
 9. The roll of foldable blank supplying tape of claim 8, wherein said release tape is formed with a plurality of release tape transverse tear lines that are respectively aligned with said blank tape transverse tear lines.
 10. The roll of foldable blank supplying tape of claim 9, wherein said blank tape further has multiple pairs of longitudinal scrap regions, and multiple pairs of longitudinal tear lines, each pair of said scrap regions being formed between two adjacent ones of said blank tape transverse tear lines at two opposite sides of a corresponding one of said foldable blanks, each of said longitudinal tear lines being disposed between two adjacent ones of said blank tape transverse tear lines and between a corresponding one of said foldable blanks and a corresponding one of said longitudinal scrap regions. 